Gyrocycle.



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E, N. DARROW.

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GYROCYULE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.31,1910.

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GYROGYOLE.

AIPLIUATION FILED IAN.31, 1910. i 991,485. I Patented May 9,1911.

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GYROGYGLE.

u HIHMII APPLICATION 'ILIID .TAI.31,1910.

aww/Moa @www S@ m Zaafd affaw mllllfm w @www1 EDWARD N. DARROW, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GYROCYCLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed January 31, 1910. SeralNo. 541,127.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known t-hat I, EDWARD N. DARnow, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyrocycles; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in gyrocycles.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character inwhich the equilibrium is maintained by means ot a gyroscope suitablymounted and operated on the machine.

Another object is to provide an improved means for connecting the frameot the machine with its supporting wheels whereby said frame isyieldingly supported and one or both of the wheels permitted to befreely turned for the purpose of steering the machine. l

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists otcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement otparts as will be more fullv described and particularly pointed out ,inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a side view ot' a gyrocycleconstructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view;Fig. 3 is an end View ot the saine; Fig. 4L is an enlarged side view ofone end of the machine showing more clearly the supporting mechanism andthe manner in which the auxiliary supporting wheels are raised and heldin an elevated position, one ot said wheels being removed to moreclearly disclose the operating mechanism; Fig. 5 is an enlarged planview of the parts shown in F ig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinalsection on the line (3 6 of Fig. 2 showing thc arrangement of theauxiliary wheel operating devices on the inner side of the supportingframe; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional View through the frame ofthe machine on a line with the center of one of the supporting Wheels,the plane of said section being indicated by the dotted line 7 7 of Fi2; Fig. 8 is a similar View taken in front 0% theA gyroscope showing themanner in which the same is supported; Fig. 9 is a side View of aportion of the frame and machine showing a horizontal arrangement of thegyroscope; Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional View of the horizontallydisposed gyroscope shown in Fig. 9 on the dot-ted line 10-10 of saidtigure; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing thearrangement of the spring detent or restraining finger for yieldinglyholding the gyroscope shown in Figs. 9 and 10 from swinging around inits yoke and also showing the supporting roller and adjacent parts ofthis form of the gyroscope.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide a main supporting frame 1comprising longitudinally disposed parallel side bars 2, which areconnected together at their opposite ends by curved bars or yokes 3. Theside bars 2 are further connected together intermediate of their ends bycross bars 4l.

The frame 1 is supported at its opposite ends upon single supportingwheels 5, each orn which is revolubly mounted between the bars 2 upon anaxle 6, see Fig. 7, to the opposite ends of which are secured in anysuitable manner substantially semicircular frame support-ing plates 7,said plates thus forming practically part oi' the axle. The wheels 5 areprovided with suitable cushion tires as shown, The outer ends of theplates 7 are connected together around the Wheels by an outer yoke 8,while the inner ends of said plates are connected together by an inneryoke 9. On the inner yokes 9 of the Wheels at the opposite ends of themachine are revolubly mounted grooved guiding rollers 10, which areengaged with segmental track plates 11 arranged across the frame 1adjacentto the inner portions of the Wheels 5 and are suitably connectedat their opposite ends to the side bars 2 of the frame.

Secured to the side bars 2 on opposite sides ofthe wheels 5 at the endsof the frame 1 are hanger frames, each of which comprises inner uprightposts 12 secured at their lower ends to the side bars of the frame 1 andouter cylindrical upwardly projecting posts 13 which are also connectedat their lower ends to the side bars 2, as shown. The posts 12 and 13are connected together at their upper ends by horizontal longitudinalbars lll, and the posts 13 at the outer ends of the frame project abovesaid bars and are connected together by cross bars 15. Slidably mountedon the outer cylindrical posts 13 are flanged sleeves or rollers 16 Withwhich are engaged the outer ends or edges of the semi-circular aXleplates 7. On the longitudinal bars 14 midway between the posts 12 and 13are formed laterally projecting lugs to which are secured the uppermembers oi elliptical or other suitable forms of supporting springs 17,the lower members oi' which are secured to guide bars 18 in 'which areformed right angular olf-sels or shoulders to which the lower sectionsoi the springs 17 are secured, as shown. The lower ends oi the guidebars 18 are slidably engaged with guide brackets 19 secured to the outersides of the bars 2, while the up per ends of the guide bars 1S areslidably engaged with suitable guide loops 20 arranged on the innersides ot' the longitudinal bars 14 midway between the posts 12 and 13.

Secured to the guide bars 1S below the longitudinal. bars 14 areinwardly projecting stub axles 21, on which are revolubly mountedbearing wheels 22 which are preferably provided with cushion tires andwhich engage and travel on the semi-circular axle plates 7 adjacent totheir outer edges. By thus connecting the ends of the mam support-mgframe 1 with the supporting wheels 5, the frame will be yieldinglysupported on said wheels without interfering in any way wit-h thelateral turning or swinging of the wheels :tor the purpose of steeringthe machine. This yielding connection between the frame and thesupporting wheels absorbs the shocks and jars occasioned by the machinepassing over rough or uneven surfaces and prevents such shocks or jarsfrom reaching the occupants of the machine.

In order to guide or steer the machine in the desired direction, Iprovide a suitable steering mechanism which may be connected to one orboth of the supporting wheels 5 whereby they may be operated to guidethe machine. The steering mechanism is herein shown as being connectedto both front and rear wheels 5, whereby they may be turned in unison tosteer the machine in the desired direction. The steering mechanism ishere shown and preferably consists of a suitably mounted steering post23 to the lower end of which is rigidly secured a toothed segmental gear24, which is connected at one end by a link 25 to an operating rod 26,which is connected at its opposite end by a link 27 to an operatinglever 28 which is pivotally mounted midway between its ends on one ofthe cross bars of the frame 1 adjacent to the inner portion of the rearsupporting Wheel, 5. The lever 28 is connected at its opposite ends byoperating rods 29 to the lower sides of the semi-circular plates 7 ofthe rear Wheel, whereby when said lever is turned in one direction orthe other by the steering post 23 and segmental gear 24, said Wheel willbe t-urned in a corresponding direction to steer the machine.

With the segmental gear 24 is engaged a similar gear 30 which ispivotally mounted on the `l'rame and is connected at one end by a slim-tlink 3l to one end of an operating level' 32, pivotally mounted on theadjacent track plate l1, as shown, The lever 32 is connected at itsopposite ends by operating rods 33 te the axle plates 7 ol the frontwheel olf the machine whereby said `wheel is turned in the desireddirection. The steering` post 23 is provided on its upper end with ahand wheel 34 whereby the saine may be readily turned. By providing asteering mecl'mnism such as herein shown and described, it will bereadily seen that the supporting wheel 5 at either end of the machinemay be readily disconnected from the steering mechanism and the machinesteered by the supporting wheel at the opposite end or' the frame.

In order to sujiiport the machine in an upright position or maintain theequilibriui'n thereof while traveling or standing still, I provide asuitably mounted and operated gyreseope r1`he gj-froscope 35 .may bearranged in the machine in a vertical position as shown in the tirstfigures of the drawings, or in a horizontal position as shown in thelast two figures of the drawings. The gyroscope is pivotally .mounted ina segmental supj'iorting yoke 3G, which yoke in the firstfigures ot thedrawings is arranged in a horizontal position midway between the sidebars 2 of the main frame and is connected midway between its ends to aguide bracket 37, which is slidably mounted on a horizental transverselydisposed guide rod 38, the opposite ends ot'which are secured insuitable standards 39 secured to the side bars of the frame as shown. Onthe rod 3S between the ends of the bracket 37 and standards 39 arearranged coiled springs 40 which yieldingly hold the gyroscope in acentral position between the side bars of the frame. The outer ends ofthe yoke 36 have connected therewith or to its trunnions the upper endsof a supplemental supporting yoke 41, on the lower portion of which isrevolubly mounted a guiding and supporting roller 50, which is adaptedto travel in a horizontally disposed track bar 51 arranged between theside bars 2 of the frame and secured to said bars at its opposite endsas shown. By means of the roller 50 and track bar 51 and the guiding andsupporting rod 3S, the gyroscope through said yokcs 3G and 41 isyieldingly held in position on the frame of the machine.

The gyroscope may be driven in any suitable manner,l the same being hereshown and is preferably operated by a suitable electric motor 54, thearmature magnets of which are ixedly mounted on the shaft of thegyroscope wheel, while the field of the motor is rigidly secured to thesupporting frame of the wheel in any suitable manner, preferably on thelower axis of the gyroscope whereby the weight of the motor acts a braketo the swinging forward or backward of the gyroscope, and a furtherresistance to such swinging action may be had by providing a stop arm 52applied at one or both trunnions and having engaged therewith a springrestraining finger 53 secured to the guide bracket 37 or yoke 36,similarly as shown applied to the horizontally disposed gyroscope 76,shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the draw ings and hereinafter more fullydescribed, thus maintaining the gyroseope in proper operative positionin the frame of the machine. The electricity is conveyed to the motor bysuitably connected current conducting wires 55, which are connected to astorage battery, or other suitable source of supply (not shown). Bymeans of a gyroscope mounted and operated as herein shown and described,the machine will be held in'an upright position of equilibrium whenmoving or standing still.

In order to support the machine in an upright position when thegyroscope is not running, I preferably provide a pair of aux iliarysupjgiorting wheels 56, which are here shown as being' revolublymount-ed on short crank axles 56 pivotally mounted in the bifurcatedouter ends of supporting shafts 5S. The inner ends of the shafts 58 aresecured to adjusting levers 59, the inner or forward ends of which arepivotally connected to the outer sides of the side bars 2 of the frameas shown` The adjusting levers 59 are provided with shortcrank arms 6()which are connected by links 6l to hand levers 62, pivotally mounted onthe side bars 2 of the frame and having suitable pawl and ratchetholding mechanism, whereby the levers are secured to hold the adjustinglevers 59 and the wheels 56 carried thereby in the raised positions. Onthe ends of the adjust ing levers 59 are ixedly secured segmental, framesupporting, ratchet bars 63, which are held in sliding engagement withthe side bars 2 of the frame l by suit-able guide blocks 64. The sidebars of the frame 1 are adjustably secured to the ratchet bars 63 bymeans of spring projected pawls 65 which are held in sliding engagementwith the side bars 2 by guide blocks 66 and which are pivotallyconnected at their lower ends to flat springs 67 secured to the loweredges of the side bars 2 as shown. The pawls 65 are provided on theirupper ends with a beveled tooth which is swung into engagement with theteeth on the ratchet bars 63, whereby when said bars are swungdownwardly the frame will be supported thereby, through the engagementof the teeth on the pawls 65, as clearly shown in Fig. l of thedrawings.

In order to swing the adjusting levers 59 and the supporting wheels 56carried thereby upwardly to an inoperative position by means of the handlevers 62, I provide a suitable pawl releasing mechanism by means ofwhich the pawls 65 may be disengaged from the ratchet bars 63, thuspermitting said adjustiiig levers and wheels to be swung upwardly to aninoperative position. The releasing mechanism for the pawls 65 compriseshand levers 68 which are pivotally secured to the inner sides of thebars 2 of the frame adjacent to the hand levers 62. To the lower ends ofthe levers 68 are connected pawl releasing rods 69 which are slidablymounted in suitable bearings secured to the lower edges of the bars 2and which are provided on their free ends with pawl engaging lugs 70,whereby when the levers 68 are operated in the proper direction, therods 69 and lugs thereon will be forced against the pawls 65, thusdisengaging the same from the teeth of the ratchet bars 6B, therebypermitting the adjusting levers 59 and the supporting wheels carriedthereby to be swung upwardly by the hand levers 62, as hereinbeforedescribed.

The auxiliary supporting wheels 56 may be mounted on axles rigidlysecured to the adjusting levers 59, or as herein shown, said wheels maybe mounted on the pivotally supported crank axles 57, and said axles maybe connected together by a connecting bar 71, which is attached by asuitable operating mechanism 72 with one of the segmental gears operatedby the steering post and drive wheel of the main steering mechanism. Theauxiliary wheels 56 are mounted for Ysteering and connected up with themain steering apparatus when the latter is arranged for steering onlyone of the main supporting wheels.

The machine may be propelled by any suit able power and in any suitablemanner. The form of propelling mechanism herein shown comprises a seriesof electric motors 73 which are suitably secured to the underside of thesemi-circular axle plates 7 on each side of the wheels 5 at the oppositeends of the frame as shown. On the shaft of the motors are fixedlymounted spur gear pinions 74, which are operatively engaged with annularracks or gear rings 75, which are secured to the hubs or opposite sidesof the wheels 5, whereby the motion or power of the motors will beimparted to the wheels 5 to drive the same in the proper direction, thuspropelling the machine. By thus arranging the motors, all or part ofthem may be opera ted at the same time. The motors when attached to theaxle plates and connected with wheels 5 as herein shown and describedwill not interfere with the steering movement of the wheels in anymanner, and while I have shown and described this form of drivingmechanism, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the propulsion ofthe machine to this form and arrangement of n'icehanism, as it will bereadily understood that other .forms of propelling mechanism may beemployed and operatively connected with the supporting wheels oit themachine.

In Figs. l) and l() of the drawings is shown a modified arrangement otthe gyroscope wherein the same is supported in the trame of the machinein a horizontal position. The gyroseope 7G shown in Figs. 9 and 10 hasits frame pivotally n'u'ainted in a vertically disposed yoke 77, securedto the guide bracket 78 which is slidably mounted on a guide member 79between coiled springs 8O in the same manner as described in connectionwith the gyroseope 35 shown in the first figures of the drawings. To thelower end of the yoke 77 is secured a guiding and supporting roller 82,which is adapted to travel in a grooved track bar S3 arranged across andsecured to the opposite side bars 2 of the frame l below the gyroscope,as shown. By means of the roller S2, track bar 83 and guiding orsupporting member 79 acting through yoke 77 and guiding bracket 78, thegyroscope 76 is yieldingly held in position on the frame of the machine.To the lower trunnion by which the gyroscope is pivotally mounted in thelower end of the yoke is secured a longitudinally extending stop arm 84having a bifurcated outer end which is engaged with a spring detent orrestraining finger 85, which is secured to the bracket 78 or other partof yoke 77, and is adapted to `yieldingly hold or restrain the gyroscopefrom swinging around in its yoke, thus maintainingr the gyroscope inproper operative position in the frame of the machine, in similar manneras gyroscope 35 is held in proper operative position by weight of motorthereon or spring arm and detent, as before mentioned. The gyroscope 76is provided with an electric motor 86 which is arranged thereon andconnected thereto in the saine manner as motor 54 is connected togyroseope 35, and to said motor are secured suitable current conductingwires 87, whereby the electric current is supplied from storagebatteries or other source of electric supply (not shown).

It will thus be seen that the gyroscopes may be arranged in the frame ofthe machine in dierent positions, and while I vhave herein shown anddescribed the preferred manner of securing the gyroscope to the frame ofthe machine for operation, it is obvious that the gyroseopes may besecured to the frame in other ways without departing from the scope ofthe invention, and that if desired a plurality of gyroscopes may bearranged in the frame of the machine and suitably connected thereto foroperation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the constructionand operating of the invention will be readilyunderstood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and. the minor details o'l'construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages oif this invention as defined in theappended claims.

I-[aving thus described my invention,what I claim is l. In a gyrocyclc amain iframe, a supporting wheel arranged at the front and at the rearend ot said frame, segmental axle plates secured to the axles of saidwheels, means to yieldably and rotatably connect said plates with themain frame of the machine, bearing wheels connected with said :iframeand adapted to travel on and engage said axle plates and yieldablysupport said main frame on said supporting wheels, the latterbeingpermitted to turn in said frame and steer the machine.

In a gyrocyele a main frame, a supporting wheel arranged at the frontand at the rear end of the said frame, segmental axle plates secured tothe axles of said wheels, means to yieldably and rotatably connectsaidplates with the main frame of the machine, bearing wheels connected withsaid frame and adapted to travel on and engage said axle plates andyieldably support said main frame on said supporting wheels` the latterbeing permitted to turn in said trame and steer the machine, a gyroscopearranged and operated in said main frame to maintain the equilibrium ofthe machine, a guide track arranged in the frame of the machine, asupport and guide rail adapted to engage and travel in said guide track,a stop member secured to said gyroseope, a spring detent adapted to beengaged with said stop and means for driving the gyro; scope.

In a gyrocyele, a main frame, a supporting wheel arranged at the frontand at the rear end of Asaid frame, segmental axle plates secured to theaxles of said wheels, means to yieldingly and rotatably connect saidplates with the main frame of the machine, hangcr fames arranged on theopposite ends of the main frame, bearing wheels having a sliding andyielding connection with said hanger frames and adapted to travel andengage on said axle plates whereby said main frame is yi-eldinglysupported on said supporting wheels and the latter permitted to turn insaid frame to steer the machine, and a gyroscope arranged and operatedin said main frame whereby the equilibrium of the machine is maintained.

4. In a gyroeycle amain supporting frame, a supporting wheel arranged atthe front and at the rear end of said frame, horizontally arrangedplates secured to the axles of said wheels, means to yieldably and.rotatably connect said plates with the main 'frame of the machine,bearing wheels connected with said frame and adapted to travel on andengage said plates to yieldably support the main frame on saidsupporting wheels, a steering mechanism, means to connect said mechanismto said supporting whe-els for turning said wheels in the properdirection for steering the machine, a gyroscope mounted in the frame ofthe machine, means to operate said gyroscope and adjustable means forsupporting said trame when the gyroscope is out of operation.

5. In a gyrocycle, a main supporting frame, a supporting wheel arrangedat the opposite ends of said frame, means to yieldingly connect the endsol' the frame with the axles ot said wheels whereby the latter may beturned laterally for the purpose of steering the machine, a gyrosco-pe,means to operatively connect said gyroscope with said supporting frame,said means comprising a yoke, means to pivotally connect the frame ofthe gyroscope with said yoke, a guide track arranged in the frame of themachine, a suitably mounted supporting and guiding roller adapted toengage and travel in said guide track, a stop arm secured to on-e of thetrunnions of said gyroscope, a spring detent adapted to be engaged withsaid arm whereby the gyroscope is yieldingly held against turning insaid yoke, and means whereby said gyroscope is driven.

6. In a gyrocycle, a main supp arting frame, a supporting wheel arrangedat the opposite ends of said frame, means to yieldingly conneet the endsofthe frame with the axles of said wheels whereby the latter may beturned laterally for the purpose of steering` the machine, a gyroscope,means to operatively connect said gyroscope with said supporting frame,said means comprising a yoke, means to pivotally connect the frame ofthe gyroscope with said yoke, a guide rod secured to the frame of themachine, a guide bracket secured to said yoke and having a slidingengagement with said guide rod, springs arranged on said rod and adaptedto engage the opposite ends of said bracket, a guide track arranged inthe frame ct the machine, a supplemental supporting and guiding yoke,and a supporting and guiding roller mounted on' the lower part of saidsupplemental yoke.

7. In a gyrocycle, a main frame, a sup portino wheel arranged in theopposite ends of said frame, means to yieldingly connect said ends ofthe frame to the axles of said wheels, a gyroscope mounted and operatedin the frame of the machine, a pair of auX- iliary supporting wheelsarranged one on either side ci the frame and adapted to hold the framein an upright position when the gyroscope is not running, means toadjust ably and yieldingly connect said auxiliary supporting wheels tothe frame, said means comprising pivotally mounted adjusting le vers,wheel supporting shafts secured to said levers, crank axles mounted onsaid shafts and adapted to receive said wheels, ratchet trame supportingbars arranged on the outer ends of said adjusting levers, springprojected pawls slidably mounted on said supporting fram-e and adaptedte be engaged with the teeth of said ratchet bars, whereby the auxiliarysupporting wheels are held down in an operative position to support saidframe in a yielding manner, a releasing mechanism adapted to disengageor release said pawls from said ratchet bars, and hand levers connectedwith said adjusting levers whereby the latter may be swung upwardly whenthelpawls are disengaged from said ratchet bars, thereby raising andholding said supporting wheels in an inoperative position.

S. In a gyrocycle, a main frame, a supporting wheel arranged at each endof said frame, axles arranged in said wheels, segmental axle platessecured to the outer ends of said axles, inner and outer yokes to securethe opposite ends of said plates together, segmental guide trackssecured to the main frame, guide rollers carried by the inner yokes ofsaid axle plates and adapted to engage said guide tracks, hanger framesarranged on the opposite sides of said wheels at the ends of said mainframe, guide rollers slidably mounted on said frames and adapted toreceive the edges of said segmental axle plates, bearing wheels adaptedto engage and travel on said plates, a spring connection between saidwheels and said hanger frames, whereby said main frame is supported onsaid axle plates and supporting wheels, and a gyroscope operativelymounted and operated in the main frame whereby the equilibrium of themachine is maintained.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDIVARD N. DARROW.

Witnesses:

MYRoN H. NICHOLS, RAYMOND C. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

